Shelf



H. B. HYAMS June 28, 1932.

SHELF Filed May 24, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR HERBER B-HYAMS 62MCEJMM ATTORNEYS:

June 28, 1932. H, HYAMS 1,864,907

ATTORNEYS %i I HEHBERTBHYAMS Patented June 28, 19352 at were HERBERT B.I-EYAMS, OF ST. PAUL-MINNESOTA SHELF Application filed May 24,

sing or reinforcing means are marginallyarranged to prevent objectsplaced upon the shelf from being jolted off to provide a shelf theelements of which are secured only by spot welding; to provide improvedmeans for attaching the shelf; to provide a speedy cheap method forconstructing and assembling the parts of the shelf; and, in general, toprovide an article which lends itself to cheap quantity production; andwhich can be of unusually elongated form and yet sup- ;port unusuallylarge loads without deflection. Along with the broader features of thein vention, other features relate to the details of construction and tothe method of constructing and assembling the parts.

Objects, advantages and features will appear in the specification and inthe description of the drawings, and in said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the article; V

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of 3 the article;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic view illustrating [the method of assembly, andshowingthe parts as before assembly;

Figure 5 is a view illustrating another step in assembly in which thecores have been introduced; and

i Figure 6 is a view illustrating another step in the process ofassembly in which the device is completed with. the exception of theplacement and attachment of the marginal end sections. 1 The device isconstructed of sheet material. which sheet material is first given atubular form by any suitable means, see Fig ure 2. The sheet material isbent provide at one side spaced flanges respectively indifloated at 2 3.which areperpendicular to the side of which they form extensions. The

1930. Serial No. 455,323.

wall portions of the tube from which the flanges 23 are bent are notcoplanar, but one portion indicated at 4 is spaced a greater distancefrom the wall 5 than the portion 6. This spacing is provided so thatwhen the core 8 has been introduced a space 9 will be left for thereception of a flange 10 of the plate 11. This plate or body portion ofthe shelf 11 is formed of sheet material bent centrally andlongitudinally upon itself as at 12. to providea longitudinalreinforcement, and then re-bent to provide coplanar portions 13+14 andthen bent to provide the marginal flanges 10, which are in thisinstance, parallel with the central reinforcement 12. The flanges 10 areprovided on the longitudinal edges of the plate, and, as well shown inFigures 2 and 3, the flanges 10 are introduced into space 9. to flatlyengage against the core 8,, and portion 4: of the tube. .70 The processof forming the new article herein (which'process or method is a featureof the invention) is to cut into proper lengths the tubular stock whichhas been given the form previously described. For

neatness and to facilitate corner-Welding,

this material is cut in mitered lengths as shown in Figure 4:. Forconvenience, in reference, those tubes which are to form thelongitudinal sides are designated 20, and those which form theends, 21.The cores 8 are now inserted in the long elements .20, and the cores 25in the short elements 21. -At the time of insertion the flanges 2 and 3do not occupy exactly the position shown in Figure 2, but are spacedslightly farther apart to facilitate introduction of the cores, andlater of the flange 10 of plate 11.

After the cores are inserted, the body is slid into place, byintroducing its coplanar portions 13 and 14 into the slide-ways formedby thespaced flanges 2-3. and simultaneously the flanges of the shelfare introduced I into the spaces 9 betweenthe cores and the walls 4, asshown inFigure 2. Pressure is then put upon the flanges by any suitablemeans, and the said flanges are held under compression while a spotwelding operation indicated at 26 is performed.

spaced welds are made on each side, see Fig- A series of ure 1. Theparts are so proportioned that when the flanges are brought to theirflnal position, shown in Figure 2, the walls of the tubular elements aretightened against and around the cores and the flanges 10. The endelements with their cores are then placed in position, pressure isapplied also upon the flanges to draw the parts together and then thespot welds 26 are made. Sometimes both sides 20 and ends 21 areassembled, and pres sure is put on all four sides simultaneously. Thisis optional. A spot welding operation is also performed at the miteredcorners as at 28.

By the use of the spot welds 26 and 28,-a very rigid and neatconstruction is provided. After a finishing coat, such as paint, isapplied, the article appears to be constructed from a single piece ofmaterial.

An article constructed in the manner above mentioned and having a lengthof six feet and being ten inches wide, has been found to sustain aweight of four hundred pounds, without bending, when the shelf issupported at the ends and loaded evenly at points between the supports.

Another feature of the invention relates to the formation andarrangement of an attaching means. This means includes an element bentupon itself to form a bracket, having two angularly related portions,one angular portion 38 of which is slotted as at 29 and is detachablyconnected by means of a screw and bolt 30 to the body 11. One of theseelements is attached adjacent each end, substantially in the positionshown in Fig ure 1. The opposite angular portion 32 has attached theretoin spaced relation a plate 33, a spacer 34 being introduced, as shown inFigure 3, to obtain theproper spacing and to provide a slot-like socket35 adapted to be engaged over a comparatively thin shelfsupporting armnot shown. The slot 29 permits the bracket to be moved in diflerentpositions and can be swung at any angle to correspond to the angle ofthe supporting arms whether these arms are in parallel relation or not.The spacer 34 and plate 33 are connected to the bracket by'spot weldingas at 36.

The device above described can be very cheaply constructed and after thetubular elements are cut to the proper lengths assembly can be made veryrapidly. The device, therefore, lends itself to quantity production.

It will be noted that the body or plate 11 is arranged intermediately ofand parallel with planes in which the edges of the tubular members lie.This arrangement provides marginal upstanding portions at a level abovethe plate to prevent objects which are placed upon the shelf from beingjolted off. Inasmuch as a new article of manufacture s claimed, the onlyknown process of making it is also claimed.

The folded together reinforcing portions of the rib 12 are also securedagainst unfolding by a series of spot welds one of which is indicated at12. The spot welding at this point, of course, resists separation of the0pposed rib-forming portions when the shelf is under load.

T claim as my invention:

1. A merchandising shelf, comprising marginal tubular elements forming aframe, said elements having flanges, a body portion lying within theframe and having portions lying between the flanges and within thetubular elements, cores inserted within the tubular elements, saidflanges being spot welded to a portion of the body which lies betweenthemj 2. A merchandising shelf comprising marginal tubular elementsforming a frame, said elements having flanges, a body portion lyingwithin the frame and having portions lyingbetween theflanges and withinthe tubular elements, cores inserted within the tubular el ments andcompressively engaging those body portions which lie within the tubes,said flanges being secured by spot welds to a portion of the body whichlies be tween them. I

3. A merchandising shelf composed of marginal tubular members forming aframe, each tubular member having opposed flanges, a body arrangedwithin the frame and having portions lying between the flanges andfurther having marginal flanges lying within the tubular elements, andcore pieces within the tubular elements and engaging the flanges of saidbody, and means securing the flanges of the tubular members to the bodyportion.

4. A merchandising shelf composed of tubular elements having spacedapart flange portions, a body having portions arranged between theflange portions and having portions lying within the tubes, core pieces1nserted within the tube and engaging those portions of the body whichare within the tubular elements and means securing the flanges to thebody portions.

5. A merchandising shelf comprising tubular elements having flanges, ashelf body having portions lying between the flanges and within thetubular elements, cores inserted within the tubular elements andengaging the flanges, and means compresslvely securing the flanges tothe body portions.

In witness whereofll have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May,1930.

HERBERT B. HYAlifiS.

